Carlos Santana Clarifies Beyoncé Comments

It seems Carlos Santana heard the BeyHive.

Following a swarm of criticism over his controversial Beyoncé comments, the legendary musician has issued a statement.

“I would like to clarify a comment that was reported when I was doing an interview for some upcoming shows in Australia & New Zealand,” he wrote in a Facebook post. “My intent was to congratulate Adele on her amazing night at the Grammies.

“My comment about Beyonce was regretfully taken out of context,” he added. “I have the utmost respect for her as an artist and a person. She deserves all the accolades that come her way. I wish Beyonce and her family all the best.”

Santana offered no further explanation about how his comments were taken out of context.

During an interview with Australian Associated Press, the iconic guitarist said Beyoncé lost the Album of the Year Grammy to Adele because she is “not a singer.”

“I think that Adele won because she can sing, sing,” he said. “With all respect to our sister Beyoncé, Beyoncé is very beautiful to look at and it’s more like modeling kind of music ― music to model a dress ― she’s not a singer, singer, with all respect to her…Adele can sing, sing. She doesn’t bring all the dancers and props, she can just stand there and she just stood there and sang the song and that’s it, and this is why she wins.”

On Sunday, Adele won five Grammys, including the big three: Record, Song, and Album of the Year. During her acceptance speech, the British songstress said Beyoncé deserved more recognition for her work on LEMONADE.

“I’m very humbled, and very grateful, and very gracious, but the artist of my life is Beyoncé,” she said. “This album to me, the LEMONADE album, was so monumental, Beyoncé. It was so monumental, well thought-out, beautiful, and soul baring, and we all got to see another side to you that you don’t always let us see and we appreciate that. All us artists here adore you. You are our light.”

Backstage, Adele told reporters: “I thought it was [Beyoncé’s] year. What the fuck does she have to do to win Album of the Year?”

Queen Bey has 22 Grammys out of 62 nominations, the most nods of any woman in history. On Sunday, she won Best Music Video for “Formation” and Best Urban Contemporary Album for LEMONADE.